There are so many unique arenas in the NHL that hockey fans would like to cross off their bucket list. Whether you're a fan of the team or not, some hockey venues are a must see for every NHL fanatic. There are a ton of factors that go into what makes a great arena: atmosphere, location, sight lines, history, concessions and much more! 

Elite Sports Tours decided to compile the Top 10 Bucket List NHL Venues to help you plan the perfect hockey road trip!

Capital One Arena has become one of the best places to watch a hockey game in the NHL. The venue is located centrally in Downtown Washington D.C. making it easy to get to and from all of the awesome local attractions that the city has to offer. The arena itself is very loud and filled with passionate fans which makes for an awesome game day atmosphere. During the playoffs, fans "Rock the Red" and are loud and proud of their Capitals team. See Alex Ovechkin rip a one-timer on the powerplay, hear the infamous Capitals goal horn and cross Capital One Arena off your bucket list today! 

Washington Capitals Travel Packages

PPG Paints Arena opened in 2010 as the replacement for the classic Igloo barn that the Pittsburgh Penguins played in for years. PPG Paints Arena is a beautiful state of the art venue that has great amenities, outstanding sight lines and awesome concessions. Outside you will find a statue of Penguins legend Mario Lemieux, a great homage to one of the games greatest players. Located centrally in the downtown core, the arena is within walking distance to local attractions and restaurants including the famous Primanti Bros. The Steel City loves their sports and inside PPG Paints Arena you can feel it! 

Pittsburgh Penguins Travel Packages

SAP Center, also known as "The Shark Tank" is one of the most underrated arenas in the NHL. A relatively small venue provides an incredibly loud and intimate atmosphere. The Shark Tank is a very intimidating environment for opposing teams. Though it is an older venue and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some of the newer venues do, SAP Center is still a must see due to the in-game environment. The bonus for seeing a San Jose Sharks game? The weather! Anytime you can head to the hockey arena in flip flops and shorts is a win!

Rogers Place is one of the newer venues in the NHL, opening in the 2016/17 season. Located in Downtown Edmonton, the arena is more than just an NHL Arena. The ownership group has created an entire “ICE District”, which is a block that Rogers Place is built and includes plenty of shopping and restaurants as well as a Casino. Inside the venue, its a very modern and well-built arena, it features plenty of concessions and local food options. The stadium will only climb the ranks once the ICE District is further developed. Seeing Connor McDavid take the ice at Rogers Place should be on every hockey fan's bucket list!

Edmonton Oilers Travel Packages

United Center, the home of the Chicago Blackhawks is one of the most iconic buildings in North American sports. The United Center is also the largest arena in square footage in the US and can hold up to 19,717 fans, the second largest in capacity in the NHL. The National Anthem at the United Center will give you chills and has been described by players as one of the most amazing sights across the league. Though the UC is located just outside of the downtown core, the arena can be accessed by the Chicago transportation quite easily. 

Chicago Blackhawks Travel Packages

in recent years, Nashville have solidified themselves as a hockey town. The arena is located in an almost perfect location right on Broadway, the famous strip features some incredible country bars and live music. The party on Broadway is brought inside the Bridgestone Arena, Nashville Predators games have been described as an almost "college sports" feel to the atmosphere. Whenever you are at a Predators game it is likely you will see a country music performer sing the national anthem or even perform during the intermission. Bridgestone Arena is truly one of the best and probably the most unique in game experiences in the NHL. 

Nashville Predators Travel Packages

The Vegas Golden Knights have developed arguably the most electric atmosphere in the NHL. When you attend a Golden Knights game it really is like seeing a show on ice. The atmosphere, the music, the pre and in-game entertainment exudes everything that Vegas is all about! Don't just take our word. In 2019, T-Mobile Arena was voted best best atmosphere by the NHL Players Association. Of course, when you are talking about Vegas, how can you not touch on the surrounding area and all the local entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer. If you’re planning a hockey road trip, there might not be a better destination than T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas!

Vegas Golden Knights Travel Packages

From O'Canada to the final buzzer, Winnipeg Jets fans are loud, proud and are fully engaged and interactive. Unlike a ton of passionate fan bases, the Winnipeg Jets fans are very welcoming to visiting fans, just be ready for some friendly chirping! Although the smalll capacity of Bell MTS Place creates an electric atmosphere, it means tickets can be hard to come by. That's where Elite Sports Tours comes in! We have a variety of hotel partners close to Bell MTS Place and access to a wide range of tickets that will ensure you have a great time even if the Jets don't get the win! 

Winnipeg Jets Travel Packages

Madison Square Garden, also known as “The Mecca” is high on this list for obvious reasons. MSG’s recent billion-dollar renovation has given the famous venue a face lift and has made it much more fan-friendly. The building exudes history with all the legends that have taken the ice, the court, ring and even the stage. If you haven’t been to Madison Square Garden it must do in the years to come, it will not disappoint. “The World’s Most Famous Arena” has the best location of all venues in the NHL, located centrally in Downtown Manhattan there is an abundance of local attractions and restaurants you can check out prior to seeing the New York Rangers play. 

New York Rangers Travel Packages

The Bell Centre simply has it all, location, history and atmosphere. A Montreal Canadiens home game has the best all-around atmosphere in the NHL. The pre-game introductions and national anthems will give you goosebumps. No matter the night that you head down to the Bell Centre it is going to be electric, but a Saturday night is like nothing else! When the home team scores a goal they have one of the most recognizable goal horns in all of hockey. The Bell Centre remains to be the all-around best NHL Arena that you must make sure you check out.

Montreal Canadiens Travel Packages

Our Sports Travel Experts are here to help you travel to see your team! Planning a trip in a city you aren't familiar with just got easier with Elite Sports Tours! We have a variety of hotel partners close to the game and access to a wide range of tickets that will ensure you have a great time even if your team doesn't get the win!

Let our experts know what game(s) you want to attend, what city you want to visit, along with how many people will be joining you to cross another city off your bucket list!

NHL Hockey Travel Packages